Modular rack design

ABSTRACT

A transportable modular rack system is disclosed. The transportable modular rack system comprises a modular cage and a moveable insert rack that is at least partially positionable within the interior of the modular cage. Articles and/or article housings can be positioned on shelves positioned within the interior of the moveable insert rack. The transportable modular rack is suitable for use in aircraft, watercraft and/or land vehicles. A pallet-mounted transportable modular rack system comprising modular rack components and moveable insert rack components is also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a transportable rack structure, andmore particularly, to a transportable rack structure having a modularcage and a moveable insert rack.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Storage assemblies for supporting and enclosing vertically stackedelectronic equipment such as computer components, sound equipment, radarand video equipment are well known. However, traditional storageassemblies are typically configured to remain in a fixed position onceindividual electronic components are situated within the storageassembly. Accordingly, in traditional storage assemblies, if anindividual electronic and/or mechanical component and/or series ofcomponents needed to be moved to another location within the storageassembly, each component had to be removed from its original positionand reinstalled at another position within the storage assembly. Thisnecessitated additional handling of electronic equipment and increasedsetup time to reconfigure the storage assembly.

Additionally, traditional storage assemblies typically compriserelatively bulky components such as long vertical support posts and widehorizontal support posts. The physical dimensions of traditional storageassemblies can prohibit their use in confined spaces such as withinsubmarines, on aircraft or within vehicles. In these settings,traditional storage assemblies can be both difficult to transport into,and assemble within, a confined space such as a ship, boat, submarine,aircraft or vehicle.

Accordingly, a need remains for a unique storage assembly that can betransported into and assembled within a confined space that allowselectronic components to be moved within the storage assembly whileminimizing additional handling of the electronic components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a modular storage assembly that can beremoveably mounted on a pallet and transported into a confined area. Themodular storage assembly can be assembled within the confined area byremoving the pallet-mounted components, constructing the modular cage,constructing the moveable insert rack, and inserting the moveable insertrack at least partially within the modular cage by sliding the insertrack over a retainer bar of the modular cage. Articles and/or articlehousings can be inserted within the moveable insert rack and securedwithin the modular cage. Individual moveable insert racks can be removedfrom a first location within a modular cage network and repositioned ata new location within the modular cage network without removing thearticles and/or article housings from the moveable insert rack.

An aspect of the present invention is to provide a transportable modularrack system comprising a modular cage securable to a surface and amoveable insert rack at least partially receivable within the modularcage. The modular cage comprises a first side panel, a second side panelopposite the first side panel, and at least one detachable retainer barmember extending from the first side panel to the second side panel. Themoveable insert rack comprises a base, a first and second insert paneldetachably mounted on the base, and at least one shelf removeablymounted on and extending between the first and second insert panels.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a transportablepallet-mounted modular rack system comprising modular cage componentsremoveably mounted on the pallet and moveable insert rack componentsremoveably mounted on the pallet. The modular cage components comprisinga first side and second side panel, and at least one detachable retainerbar member which may be secured between the first side and the secondside panels. The moveable insert rack components comprising a base, afirst and second insert panel detachably mountable on the base, and atleast one shelf which may be removeably mountable on and extend betweenthe first and second insert panels.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a method ofassembling a modular rack in a vehicle, comprising the steps of securinga modular cage to the vehicle, assembling a moveable insert rack, andinserting the moveable insert rack at least partially within the modularcage by sliding the moveable insert rack over the retainer bar at leastpartially into the modular cage.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be more fullyunderstood following a review of this specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the interior of a vehicle and atransportable pallet-mounted modular rack system positioned within avehicle in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of components of a transportablepallet-mounted modular rack system and a partially assembled modularcage in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a modular cage and a panelsupport member engaging the first side panel and second side panel inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of components of a transportablepallet-mounted modular rack system and a fully assembled modular cage inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of components of a transportablepallet-mounted modular rack system, a fully assembled modular cage, anda moveable base and a back insert panel engaging the moveable base inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of components of a transportablepallet-mounted modular rack system, a fully assembled modular cage, anda moveable base engaged with a back inset panel and a first and secondinsert panel in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of components of a transportablepallet-mounted modular rack system, a fully assembled modular cage, amoveable base engaged with a back insert panel, a first and secondinsert panel, and a plurality of shelves in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of components of a transportablepallet-mounted modular rack system, a fully assembled modular cage, amoveable base engaged with a back insert panel, a first and secondinsert panel, and a plurality of shelves supporting equipment housing inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a moveable insert rack partially engagedwithin a modular outer cage in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a moveable insert rack partiallyengaged within a modular cage in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged portion of the perspective view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a moveable insert rack secured within amodular cage by a plurality of detachable bar members in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of multiple modular cages and multiplemoveable insert racks in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1, a transportable pallet-mounted modular rack system20 is shown within the interior of a confined space, such as theinterior of a vehicle 22. As used herein, the term “vehicle” includesaircraft, such as planes and helicopters, and the like, watercraft, suchas ships, boats, submarines, and the like, and land vehicles, such ascars, trucks, buses, tanks, and the like. The transportablepallet-mounted modular rack system comprises components that areremoveably mounted on a pallet 24. In one embodiment, the pallet 24 canbe any commercially available pallet. In another embodiment, the pallet24 can be specially designed to correspond to the specific dimensions ofthe transportable modular rack system. The pallet 24 and removeablymounted components can be introduced into the interior of a confinedspace by a skid or other motorized vehicle, or carried in manually. Inone embodiment, all of the components of the modular rack system 20 areremoveably mounted on a single pallet.

As shown in FIG. 1, the components of the modular rack system 20comprise modular cage components 26 and moveable insert rack components28. When assembled, the modular cage components form a modular cage andthe moveable insert rack components form moveable insert rack as will bedescribed herein. The modular rack system 20 may also optionallycomprise article(s) and/or article housing(s) 30 that can be securedand/or stored within the modular rack system 20 once assembled. As usedherein, the term “article” can include electronic components, computers,computer components, sensors, radars, mechanical devices, opticalsensors, and the like. As used herein, the term “article housing” caninclude any suitable storage structure for housing and/or protecting anarticle, such as a case, packaging, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the modular cage components include a first sidepanel 32 and a second side panel 34. The first side panel 32 cancomprise a first section 32A and a second section 32B. The second sidepanel 34 can comprise a first section 34A and a second section (shown inthe unassembled position in FIG. 2 as unassembled posts 52 and 54connected by panel support member 68, and in FIG. 4 in the assembledposition as second section 34B). In one embodiment, at least a portionof the first side panel 32 and/or at least a portion of the second sidepanel 34 is securable to a surface, such as a floor 36, wall 38 and/orceiling of a vehicle 22. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, thefirst side panel 32 and the second side panel 34 can be positionedopposite each other and secured to the floor 36. Each of the first sidepanel 32 and the second side panel 34 can comprise a continuous panel ora plurality of panel sections that can be assembled into a continuouspanel. The first side panel 32 can comprise a first section 32A and asecond section 32B that is attachable and/or detachable from the firstsection 32A. The second side panel 34 can comprise a first section 34Aand a second section 34B (shown in FIG. 4) which is attachable and/ordetachable from the first section 34A. The first sections 32A and 34Acan be detached from the second section 32B and 34B (shown in FIG. 4)when removeably mounted on the pallet 24, and can be attached to eachother when assembled within the vehicle 22. As shown in FIG. 2, thefirst panel 32 is fully assembled and the second panel 34 is partiallyassembled and partially removeably mounted on the pallet 24.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the first section 32A of the first side panel32 can comprise a lower front vertical support post 40 and a lower rearvertical support post 42, and the second section 32B of the first sidepanel 32 can comprise an upper front vertical support post 44 and anupper rear vertical support post 46. The first section 34A of the secondside panel 34, shown in FIG. 2 in the assembled position, can comprise alower front vertical support post 48 and a lower rear vertical supportpost 50 and the second section of the second side panel, shown in FIG. 2in the pallet-mounted unassembled position, can comprise an upper frontvertical support post 52 and an upper rear vertical support post 54. Thelower front vertical support post 40 can be engageable with the upperfront vertical support post 44 and the lower rear vertical support post42 can be engageable with the upper rear vertical support post 46.Similarly, the lower front vertical support post 48 can be engageablewith the upper front vertical support post 52 and the lower rearvertical support post 50 can be engageable with the upper rear verticalsupport post 54.

As shown in the fully assembled position in FIG. 4, the lower front andrear vertical support posts 40, 42, 48 and 50 can comprise an upper end40A, 42A, 48A and 50A that is configured to be received within a lowerend 44A, 46A, 52A and 54A of the upper front and rear vertical supportposts 44, 46, 52 and 54. The upper end 40A, 42A, 48A and 50A can betapered or have an area of reduced diameter that can be received withinthe lower end 44A, 46A, 52A and 54A. Likewise, the lower end 44A, 46A,52A and 54A can be configured to be received within the upper end 40A,42A, 48A and 50A. In another embodiment, the upper end 40A, 42A, 48A and50A and the lower end 44A, 46A, 52A and 54A can be engaged by anyconventionally known fastening means 60, such as held together byrivets, bolts and nuts, pins, screws, nails and other reuseablefasteners.

As shown in FIG. 4, one or more of the first side panel 32 and/or thesecond side panel 34 can be secured to a surface, such as a floor 36,wall or ceiling of a vehicle interior 22. In one embodiment, the upperrear vertical support post 46 of the first side panel 32 can be securedto a vehicle wall by any suitable fastening means 62. In anotherembodiment, the upper rear vertical support post 46 can be secured to asecuring track 64 which can be installed along a wall surface to allowadditional securement of the modular cage to the vehicle interior. Inanother embodiment, lower front and rear vertical support posts 40, 42,48 and 50 can comprise a lower end 40B, 42B, 48B and 50B which can besecureable to a surface, such as a vehicle floor 36 by any conventionalsecuring means. In another embodiment, lower front and rear verticalsupport posts 40, 42, 48 and 50 can comprise at least one foot 66 whichis securable to a surface, such as a vehicle floor by any conventionalsecuring means.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, first side panel 32 and secondside panel 34 can comprise at least one panel support member 68extending between and fastened to the vertical support posts 40, 42, 44,46, 48, 50, 52 and 54. Panel support members 68 can provide additionalsupport and stability to the modular cage 27. The first side panel 32and the second side panel 34 can comprise any suitable material, such asmetal and/or plastic. The vertical support posts 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50,52 and 54 can be hollow or solid and can comprise any suitablecross-sectional shape, such as circular, square, rectangular,triangular, octagonal, and the like. Once the first side panel 32 andthe second side panel 34 are assembled, at least one detachable retainerbar member 70 can be engaged between the first side panel 32 and thesecond side panel 34.

As shown in FIG. 3, the retainer bar member 70 is shown in the partiallyengaged position between the first side panel 32 and the second sidepanel 34. The retainer bar member 70 comprises an elongated membersection 70A, a first connection end 72 and a second connection end 74.In one embodiment, a first connection end 72 can be detachably securedto the first panel 32 along a vertical support post 40 or 42 and asecond connection end 74 can be detachably secured to second side panel34 along a vertical support post 48 or 50. It will be appreciated hereinthat a similar connection can be made between vertical support posts 44and 46 and/or 52 and 54. In one embodiment, first connection end 72 andsecond connection end 74 can each comprise any suitable fastening means76, such as pins, retractable pins, and the like, for detachablysecuring the retainer bar member 70 to the first side panel 32 and thesecond side panel 34. In one embodiment, a retainer bar member 70 canextend from a lower end of the front vertical support post 40B to alower end of the front vertical support post 48B. It will be appreciatedherein that a retainer bar member 70 can be similarly positioned at anylocation between any of the vertical support posts. For example,retainer bar member 70 can extend between an upper end, a lower end, ora position therebetween, from one vertical support post to anothervertical support post such as between a lower rear end of the verticalsupport post 42B and a lower rear end of the vertical support post 50B.

As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of detachable retainer bar members 70can be secured to the first side panel 32 and the second side panel 34.The retainer bar members 70 can be secured to any desired surface of thevertical support members of the first side panel 40, 42, 44 or 46, andany desired surface of the vertical support members of the second sidepanel 48, 50, 52 or 54.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the assembled modular cage 27 can have anydimensions suitable for receiving a moveable insert rack within theinterior of the modular cage 27 as will be described herein. In oneembodiment, the modular cage 27 has an interior length of from about 32to about 36 inches, an interior height of from about 78 to about 82inches, and an interior width of from about 32 to about 36 inches. Theexternal length of the modular cage can be from about 36 to about 40inches, the exterior width of the modular cage can be from about 36 toabout 40 inches, and the exterior height of the modular cage can be fromabout 82 to about 86 inches. The modular cage 27 can be constructed fromany suitable materials such as lightweight plastics and/or metalscapable of withstanding structural shock loads and vibrations induced byrestraining the modular cage 27 in travel within a vehicle.

FIG. 5 shows the modular cage 27 in the fully assembled position and themoveable insert rack 29 in a partially assembled position. The moveableinsert rack 29 can comprise a base 80 having at least one caster 82structured to moveably contact a surface, such as a floor 36. The base80 can comprise any shape, such as square or rectangular. In oneembodiment, the base 80 comprises a caster 82 located at each corner. Inanother embodiment, the base 80 has a square shape and comprises fourcasters 82, one caster 82 located at each corner of the base 80. A backinsert panel 84 is structured to engage the base 80. The back insertpanel 84 can comprise a continuous panel or can comprise a plurality ofpanel segments. As shown in FIG. 5, the back insert panel can comprise alower panel 86 and an upper panel 88. In one embodiment, the lower panel86 and the upper panel 88 are hinged together along hinge 87 such thatthe lower panel 86 and the upper panel 88 are in substantially the sameplane in an extended position and can be folded substantially adjacenteach other in a collapsed position. As used herein, the term “hinge” caninclude any suitable hinge means, such as mechanical hinges, livinghinges, and the inclusion of material(s) having a greater degree offlexibility than the material(s) comprising the lower panel and theupper panel.

As shown in FIG. 6, a first insert panel 90 and a second insert panel 92can be configured to engage the base 80. The first insert panel 90 andthe second insert panel 92 can each comprise a continuous panel or cancomprise a plurality of panel segments 90A, 90B, 92A and/or 92B. Asshown in FIG. 6, the first insert panel 90 can comprise a lower panel90B and an upper panel 90A. Likewise, the second insert panel 92 cancomprise a lower panel 92B and an upper panel 92A. In one embodiment,the lower panel 90B and the upper panel 90A are hinged together alonghinge 91 such that the lower panel 90B and the upper panel 90A are insubstantially the same plane in an extended position and can be foldedsubstantially adjacent each other in a collapsed position. In anotherembodiment, the lower panel 92B and the upper panel 92A are hingedtogether along hinge 93 such that the lower panel 92B and the upperpanel 92A are in substantially the same plane in an extended positionand can be folded substantially adjacent each other in a collapsedposition. In one embodiment, each of the first insert panel 90A and 90B,the second insert panel 92A and 92B, and the back insert panel 84 areeach removeably mounted on the pallet in a collapsed position andtransitioned to an extended position during assembly within a confinedspace, such as a vehicle interior.

As shown in FIG. 6, each of the first insert panel 90 and the secondinsert panel 92 can engage the base 80 by any suitable engaging means.In one embodiment, each of the lower panel 90B, the lower panel 92B andthe back insert panel 84 can comprise at least one pin structured toengage a hole positioned within the base 80. In another embodiment, eachof the lower panel 90B, the lower panel 92B and the back insert panel 84can comprise at least one hole structured to engage a pin positionedwithin the base 80. Each of the lower panel 90B, the lower panel 92B andthe back insert panel 84 can comprise a plurality of holes and/or pinspositioned to engage a plurality of holes and/or pins positioned alongthe perimeter of the base 80. Once engaged with the base 80, the firstinsert panel 90, the second insert panel 92, and the back insert panel84 can extend upwards from the base 80 in a vertical direction. As shownin FIG. 6, the first insert panel 90 and the second insert panel 92 cancomprise at least one handle 120 suitable to allow a user to maneuverthe moveable insert rack once fully assembled as will be describedherein.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first insert panel 90, the second insert panel92, and/or the back insert panel 84 can comprise at least one lockingmechanism 102 for securing the first insert panel 90 to the back insertpanel 84 and/or for securing the second insert panel 92 to the backinsert panel 84. As shown in FIG. 6, locking mechanism 102 can comprisea plurality of tabs 104 integrally connected to the first side panel 90and a plurality of tabs 106 integrally connected to the back insertpanel 84. The tabs 104 and 106 can be snapped together or coupled by apin to hold the first side panel 90 together with the back insert panel84. In another embodiment, the locking mechanism 102 can comprise aplurality of tabs 108 integrally connected to the second side panel 92and a plurality of tabs 110 integrally connected to the back insertpanel 84. The tabs 108 and 110 can be snapped together or coupled by apin to hold the second side panel 92 together with the back insert panel84.

As shown in FIG. 7, a top panel 122 can be attached to each of the upperpanel 90A, the upper panel 92A and the upper panel 88 by any suitableengaging means. In one embodiment, each of the upper panel 90A, theupper panel 92A and the upper panel 88 can comprise at least one pinstructured to engage a hole positioned within the top panel 122. Inanother embodiment, each of the upper panel 90A, the upper panel 92B andthe upper panel 88 can comprise at least one hole structured to engage apin positioned within the top panel 122. Each of the upper panel 90A,the upper panel 92A and the upper panel 88 can comprise a plurality ofholes and/or pins positioned to engages a plurality of holes and/or pinspositioned along the perimeter of the top panel 122.

As shown in FIG. 7, at least one shelf 130 can be removeably mounted andextend between the first side panel 90 and the second side panel 92. Theshelf 130 can have any suitable dimensions such that it can engage theinterior of the first side panel 90 and the second side panel 92. In oneembodiment, the shelf 130 can be positioned at multiple locations withinthe interior of the moveable insert rack along the first side panel 90and the second side panel 92, such as positioned between the lower panel90B and the lower panel 92B. Multiple shelves can be positioned withinthe interior of the moveable insert rack, such as vertically stacked ontop of each other. In another embodiment, the shelf 130 can comprise atleast one equipment holder 132 structured to assist in restraining anarticle and/or an article housing 30, shown in FIG. 7 in the un-engagedpallet-mounted position, on the shelf 130. The equipment holder 132 cancomprise a non-skid material such as rubber. The equipment holder 132can be angled so as to provide skid resistance for an article and/orarticle housing 30 positioned on the shelf 130. The equipment holder 132can also comprise a protrusion structured to engage at least a portionof a surface of an article and/or article housing 30 to resist movementonce the article and/or article housing is positioned on the shelf 130.

As shown in FIG. 8, an article(s) and/or article housing(s) 30 can bepositioned within the interior of the moveable insert rack 29 on a shelf130. Multiple articles can be positioned within the moveable insert rack29, such as at least one article on each shelf 130. The moveable insertrack 29 can have any suitable dimensions such that the moveable insertrack 29 can be at least partially inserted into the interior of themodular cage 27. In one embodiment, the moveable insert rack 29 has aninterior length of from about 30 to about 33 inches, an interior heightof from about 75 to about 79 inches, and an interior width of from about28 to about 32 inches. The external length of the moveable insert rack29 can be from about 30¾ to about 33¾ inches, the exterior width of themoveable insert rack 29 can be from about 28¾ to about 32¾, and theexterior height of the moveable insert rack 29 can be from about 77¾ toabout 81¾ inches. The moveable insert rack 29 can be constructed fromany suitable materials such as lightweight plastics and/or metalscapable of withstanding structural shock loads and vibrations induced byrestraining the moveable insert rack 29 in travel within a vehicle.

As shown in FIGS. 9-10 and 12, the moveable insert rack 29 can beinserted at least partially within the interior of the modular cage 27.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the casters 82 can be at least partiallyretractable towards the base 80. In one embodiment, the casters 82 areretractable towards the base 80 such that the moveable insert rack 29can be inserted within the interior of the modular cage 27 over aretainer bar member 70 positioned between a lower end of the frontvertical support post 40 and a lower end of the front vertical supportpost 48 (not shown). As the moveable insert rack 29 is inserted into theinterior of the modular cage 27, the casters 82 can retract toward thebase 80 to a degree sufficient to allow the moveable insert rack tomaintain substantially the same vertical height as the caster 82 isretracted. In one embodiment, two casters 82 positioned at the rear ofthe moveable insert rack 29 are retracted over a retainer bar member 70positioned between a lower end of the front vertical support post 40 anda lower end of the front vertical support post 48 followed by twocasters 82 positioned at the front of the moveable insert rack 29.

As shown in FIG. 12, once the moveable insert rack 29 is inserted intothe interior of the modular cage 27, at least one retainer bar member70A can be positioned between the lower front vertical support post 40and the lower front vertical support post 48 and/or the upper frontvertical support post 44 and the upper front vertical support post 52.In one embodiment, the retainer bar member 70A can extend between thelower front vertical support post 40 and the lower front verticalsupport post 48 and/or the upper front vertical support post 44 and theupper front vertical support post 52 at a location such that at least aportion of an article and/or article housing 30 is restrained by theretainer bar member 70A.

As shown in FIG. 13, multiple modular cages 27 and multiple moveableinsert racks 29 can be positioned adjacent each other. In oneembodiment, multiple modular cages 27 can be joined together to form amodular cage network and/or fastened to a surface such as a floor,ceiling or wall. In one embodiment, a moveable insert rack can beremoved from a modular cage by removing the retainer bars 70A andsliding the moveable insert rack out from the interior of the modularcage. The casters 82 can be retracted toward the base 80 to allow themoveable insert rack to pass over the retainer bar 70 positioned betweena lower end of the front vertical support post 40 and a lower end of thefront vertical support post 48. Once the moveable insert rack 29 isremoved from the interior of the first modular cage 27, it can beinserted within the interior of another modular cage in the modular cagenetwork by the process described herein. The ability to remove amoveable insert rack 29 from one location within a modular cage networkand insert the moveable insert rack 29 into another location within themodular cage network allows a user to customize the location of articlesand/or article housings 30 in response to varying or changing workingconditions.

Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been describedabove for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilledin the art that numerous variations of the details of the presentinvention may be made without departing from the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

1. A transportable modular rack system comprising: a modular cagesecurable to a surface comprising: a first side panel, a second sidepanel opposite the first side panel, and at least one detachableretainer bar member extending from the first side panel to the secondside panel; and a moveable insert rack at least partially receivablewithin the modular cage, the moveable insert rack comprising: a base, afirst and second insert panel detachably mounted on the base, and atleast one shelf removeably mounted on and extending between the firstand second insert panels.
 2. The transportable modular rack system ofclaim 1, wherein the first side panel and the second side panel eachcomprise two vertical support members.
 3. The transportable modular racksystem of claim 1, wherein the first side panel and the second sidepanel each comprise at least two detachable sections.
 4. Thetransportable modular rack system of claim 1, further comprising aplurality of detachable retainer bar members extending between the firstside panel and the second side panel.
 5. The transportable modular racksystem of claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least one caster. 6.The transportable modular rack system of claim 5, wherein the caster isat least partially retractable toward the base to allow the caster topass over the retainer bar member when the moveable insert rack is atleast partially installed within the modular cage.
 7. The transportablemodular rack system of claim 1, wherein the moveable insert rack furthercomprises a back insert panel detachably mounted on the base andconnected to each of the first side panel and the second side panel. 8.The transportable modular rack system of claim 7, wherein the backinsert panel has a top end and a bottom end and is hinged at a locationbetween the top end and the bottom end.
 9. The transportable modularrack system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second insertpanels have a top and a bottom end and are hinged at a location betweenthe top end and the bottom end.
 10. The transportable modular racksystem of claim 1, wherein the at least one shelf is verticallyadjustable along the first insert panel and second insert panel.
 11. Thetransportable modular rack system of claim 1, wherein the at least oneshelf is structured and arranged to receive at least one article and/orarticle housing.
 12. The transportable modular rack system of claim 1,wherein the detachable retainer bar member extends between a lower endof a front vertical support post of the first side panel and a lower endof a front vertical support post of the second side panel.
 13. Thetransportable modular rack system of claim 1, wherein the surface is afloor, wall and/or ceiling.
 14. The transportable modular rack system ofclaim 13, wherein the surface is a vehicle surface.
 15. Thetransportable modular rack system of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is anaircraft, watercraft or land vehicle.
 16. A transportable pallet-mountedmodular rack system comprising: modular cage components removeablymounted on the pallet, the modular cage components comprising: first andsecond side panels, and at least one detachable retainer bar memberwhich may be secured between the first and the second side panels; andmoveable insert rack components removeably mounted on the pallet, themoveable insert rack components comprising: a base, first and secondinsert panels detachably mountable on the base, and at least one shelfwhich may be removeably mountable on and extendable between the firstand second insert panels.
 17. The transportable pallet-mounted system ofclaim 16, further comprising at least one article and/or article housingpositioned on the pallet.
 18. The transportable pallet-mounted system ofclaim 16, wherein the pallet-mounted system can be assembled within anaircraft, watercraft or land vehicle.
 19. A method of assembling amodular rack in a vehicle comprising the steps of: securing a modularcage comprising a retainer bar to the vehicle; assembling a moveableinsert rack; and inserting the moveable insert rack at least partiallywithin the modular cage by sliding the moveable insert rack over theretainer bar at least partially into the modular cage.
 20. The method ofclaim 19, further comprising the step of installing at least one otherretainer bar on the modular cage after the moveable insert rack is atleast partially inserted into the modular cage.